T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program - FEIS Chapters - PVD

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) Evaluation6.11 Fish, Wildlife, and PlantsBased on the impact analysis presented in Chapter 5, Environmental Consequences, Alternative B4 would notsignificantly impact fish, wildlife, and plants. While the habitat for two state-listed species were observed in theProject Area (the pine barrens tiger beetle and sickle-leaved golden aster), these habitats would not be impactedby Alternative B4.The airfield provides potentially suitable habitat for a number of regionally rare grassland bird species,including the upland sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda), horned lark (Eremophila alpestris), and grasshoppersparrow (Ammodramus savannarum). These bird species are rare at the state level but have no special federalstatus beyond the normal protection afforded all migratory birds. The potential “greatest conservation need”grassland bird species habitat located south of Runway 34 would be avoided by revisions to the design of theglide slope area in the Preferred Alternative. Therefore, no mitigation is required. Section 5.12.8, Avoidance andMinimization, of Chapter 5, Environmental Consequences, discusses avoidance and minimization used to reduceimpacts to fish, wildlife, and plants.It should be noted that the mitigation program developed to compensate for significant impacts to wetlands willalso benefit biodiversity through the restoration of former wetland habitats and the preservation of wetland andupland habitats as discussed in this chapter Section 6.9, Wetlands and Waterways.6.12 Threatened and Endangered SpeciesThere are no federally listed species of concern or threatened or endangered species within the Project Area and,therefore, there would be no significant impacts to threatened or endangered species as a result of theImprovement Program. No mitigation is required.6.13 FloodplainsAlternative B4 would result in significant impacts as it would require filling of approximately 2.3 acres ofFEMA-mapped floodplain. Alternative B4 would constitute a “significant encroachment” according to FAAOrder 1050.1E since it would cause adverse impacts on natural and beneficial floodplain values. Table 5-126summarizes the significant impacts to floodplains for Alternative B4, which would result in the loss of a total of726 cubic yards of flood storage. This loss would affect the natural moderation of floods, groundwater recharge,and water quality maintenance. Design measures to avoid and minimize impacts to floodplains are described inChapter 5, Environmental Consequences, Section 5.14.8, Avoidance and Minimization.6.13.1 Mitigation for Significant Floodplain Impacts for Alternative B4Mitigation for floodplain impacts (flood storage volumes filled below elevation 14 feet NAVD 88, theFEMA-regulated base flood elevation) is generally accomplished by excavating one or more areas adjacent tobut higher than the floodplain, down to elevations equal to those in the impacted floodplain area. The createdfloodplain would replace the flood storage displaced by fill. Significant impacts to floodplains would beChapter 6 – Mitigation 6-37 July 2011\\Mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH06_Mitigation_JUL_2011.doc